Josh Mayer: Harnessing the Potential of Mentorship

[00:00:00] (upbeat music)

[00:00:02] - Hello and welcome to my biggest lesson,

[00:00:04] the show that brings you the key learnings

[00:00:05] from the most influential founders,

[00:00:07] executives, and investors in the Colorado Tech community.

[00:00:10] My name is Adam Burrows.

[00:00:12] - And I'm Chris Erickson.

[00:00:14] Together, we are the co-founders of Range Ventures.

[00:00:17] - An early stage venture for a based in Denver.

[00:00:20] You can find out more about what we're up to at range.vc.

[00:00:23] Our guest this week is Josh Mayer.

[00:00:28] Josh is the head of professional services at EasyPost,

[00:00:31] a leading provider of modern supply chain solutions.

[00:00:34] He joined the company in July of 2022

[00:00:37] when his successful consulting firm,

[00:00:38] somebody advisory, was acquired.

[00:00:40] (upbeat music)

[00:00:43] - Josh, welcome to the podcast today.

[00:00:54] - Hey Chris, great to be here.

[00:00:56] - We excited to have you here.

[00:00:57] - So before we jump into the biggest lesson

[00:00:59] and talk a bit more about Colorado Tech,

[00:01:01] I'd love for our listeners to learn a little bit more

[00:01:04] about you, tell them a bit of what you're up to now

[00:01:06] and what you didn't your career prior to that.

[00:01:08] - Yeah, for sure.

[00:01:09] So currently, firstly,

[00:01:12] on the head of professional services at EasyPost,

[00:01:15] so EasyPost is a leading software provider

[00:01:19] of supply chain solutions,

[00:01:20] we do a lot with parcel, shipping,

[00:01:22] and other modes of logistics.

[00:01:25] - And so I joined EasyPost through acquisition

[00:01:28] in July of 2022,

[00:01:30] well, some of the advisory scene

[00:01:33] which is the supply chain consulting firm

[00:01:36] and then Elevate, which was a SASS supply chain

[00:01:40] analytics product that we had started through

[00:01:43] the consulting journey.

[00:01:44] So it would be an EasyPost just over 18 months,

[00:01:48] and before that went,

[00:01:49] and some of them that Elevate for about,

[00:01:51] let's see some of it for about six years

[00:01:53] and Elevate for two years,

[00:01:55] and I think the other important thing,

[00:01:57] I had talked a lot about it

[00:01:58] was before I that I was on the customer side

[00:02:00] of Raman operations.

[00:02:02] So I started my career at Colon's Department

[00:02:05] so he was running logistics operations.

[00:02:07] You know, the team of engineers, analysts,

[00:02:09] project managers, and really started

[00:02:13] by running a business,

[00:02:14] and that's something that's really clear

[00:02:15] that throughout my career sense name.

[00:02:20] - And I think historically,

[00:02:22] that logistics in that space,

[00:02:23] I don't think people would think

[00:02:24] is the most exciting or fastest pace space,

[00:02:28] but over the last five, 10 years,

[00:02:30] there's been a lot of innovation,

[00:02:31] a lot of cool investment.

[00:02:33] What have been some of the more interesting things

[00:02:35] you've seen or been a part of with that?

[00:02:38] - Yeah, I think at your point,

[00:02:40] really with COVID and quarantine

[00:02:42] and kind of forcing the end percent,

[00:02:45] there's a lot of new startups

[00:02:47] and the logistics space.

[00:02:50] How do you guys tell you?

[00:02:52] Two and the actually color, color outside seeing

[00:02:54] that I really like.

[00:02:55] One is outrider.

[00:02:57] So they provide, you know,

[00:02:59] kind of autonomous yard management,

[00:03:01] also very created being electric vehicles.

[00:03:03] So I think that's really cool

[00:03:05] because for an engineers who's,

[00:03:06] you know, run a warehouse,

[00:03:07] you're been in a warehouse.

[00:03:08] The yard can be complete disasters sometimes.

[00:03:11] And then the other one,

[00:03:12] actually the other one,

[00:03:13] I need to put a collider something for you guys,

[00:03:15] but two boxes and the returns,

[00:03:18] the Jurassic Space.

[00:03:19] Yeah, it's got to meet some of that

[00:03:21] and just kind of the way the retention

[00:03:22] might come with Stig and the returns

[00:03:24] and it's pretty neat.

[00:03:25] - Yeah, you know, we're excited about,

[00:03:27] you know, both those companies.

[00:03:28] We know some of the outrider guys

[00:03:30] and then Nikhael from two boxes.

[00:03:32] You know, it's interesting to how you have prior experiences.

[00:03:35] In my prior life,

[00:03:36] I did some work with some logistics

[00:03:38] or with warehouses actually selling aftermarket parts

[00:03:42] to Class 8 semi.

[00:03:43] So sort of full circle.

[00:03:44] (laughs)

[00:03:45] Right, the parts for the trucks

[00:03:46] that then moved all of it,

[00:03:48] but it never had been in sort of those big 40 foot ceiling

[00:03:51] cross deck warehouses before.

[00:03:53] And there's a lot of technology to do what feels

[00:03:56] like a very simple thing now.

[00:03:58] - Yeah, oh, absolutely.

[00:04:00] Well, it's certainly needed.

[00:04:02] I mean, even for me when we started Elevate,

[00:04:06] which was the SAAS and the enhance product,

[00:04:09] it was like a new day with just the modern,

[00:04:12] using modern technology.

[00:04:13] I think pre-committed,

[00:04:15] I think supply chain teams are reviewed

[00:04:16] and there's kind of back office,

[00:04:18] you know, warehouse guys.

[00:04:19] We're really didn't get a lot of investment.

[00:04:21] So, you know, unfortunately,

[00:04:22] it took over to wake people up,

[00:04:24] but I think it was 1000.

[00:04:25] It's right to see investment on logistics.

[00:04:28] - You know, we work with a lot of founders

[00:04:30] in what people might consider un-sexy spaces

[00:04:33] or places that have been slower to adopt technology, right?

[00:04:38] And it sounds like you've been very successful

[00:04:40] selling technology into an industry like that.

[00:04:43] - Any, you know, very tactical tips for our listeners

[00:04:46] is to how you made those sales successfully

[00:04:50] because you can sometimes sort of run into like a stone wall

[00:04:54] 'cause they just don't wanna talk to you, right?

[00:04:56] - Yeah, I mean, I lean a lot on, you know,

[00:04:58] having that on their seat

[00:05:00] and having run the operation.

[00:05:01] So I think, you know, for anyone who's done that,

[00:05:04] I don't think just the ability to relate

[00:05:06] and really commiserate with their pain points.

[00:05:09] I think it's something that, you know,

[00:05:10] has carried me a long ways.

[00:05:11] But I would tell you in the supply chain space,

[00:05:13] I mean, a lot of my customers, you know,

[00:05:16] even the executives like to joke, you know,

[00:05:17] we move boxes for a living.

[00:05:18] So it's not that complex

[00:05:21] and you can make it really complex.

[00:05:22] But, you know, the customers that I'm typically talking to

[00:05:25] are selling onto their very pragmatic

[00:05:28] and so just being very practical about, you know,

[00:05:30] don't use the buzzword.

[00:05:31] She's talking really practically about how it works.

[00:05:34] You know, I would have helped him,

[00:05:37] how it solves their problems.

[00:05:38] You know, I think that's what they want to hear.

[00:05:40] You know, they get enough of the kind of the buzzwords

[00:05:43] and the sales fetches, you know, every day.

[00:05:46] - Well, you're sometimes to helping people

[00:05:48] move things wrapped on palettes, right?

[00:05:49] And not just boxes.

[00:05:50] So, you know, it's a little more complicated.

[00:05:52] - Correct, yeah.

[00:05:53] - Yeah.

[00:05:54] - So, I think you move here to Colorado in 2018.

[00:05:58] I believe so it loved a career perspective you over the last five six years how have you seen Colorado tech changing grow

[00:06:05] Yeah, it's been really neat for me. I mean I think I'm still very much kind of getting a somewhat and into the the color of the team even though I

[00:06:13] Started you know the team companies in Colorado. You know my team is fully remote kind of fully distributed, but yeah

[00:06:22] I mean you know the influx of talent. I think is it's pretty obvious. I think the one thing kind of one-cup one

[00:06:28] kind of notable trade on all talk about there is really it's not just the influx of talent

[00:06:32] But it's it's the fact that the people who are coming in have are very open-minded

[00:06:36] And so I think that has been really neat to just kind of collaborate whether it be through startup events or founder events

[00:06:43] I'm just kind of talk openly about advice your opportunities. You're seeing it and will more get it

[00:06:47] We're just comparing now. It's true. I'm on paying coins that you have so I think that's been really cool

[00:06:53] But I think just the investment I mean the invest in and that's been pretty staggering and

[00:06:58] You know seeing the talented people take the investment. It's these really cool things like I mentioned without rather two possible honors

[00:07:06] I tend to pay more attention and it'll just exist

[00:07:09] But I'm like I said I'm far more about the the more local community, yeah, I think Josh

[00:07:14] I don't know if you just saw but there's an article that was released that Denver again has the hottest housing market in

[00:07:21] The country, you know, so I think it just speaks to what we're seeing with talent and just the growth of the system overall from that perspective

[00:07:29] So I continue to be equally excited about it. So let's jump to it why we're here

[00:07:34] So we'd love to hear what your biggest lesson is that you've learned in your career

[00:07:38] How you learned it? You know how you put it to practice today and then any tips and tactics you have

[00:07:44] For our listeners as to how they could do it themselves

[00:07:48] Yeah, absolutely and I've thought a lot about this

[00:07:50] I mean, I think one less like keep going back to it

[00:07:52] It's just you know having mentors and really surrounding yourself with juniors, and whatever you do

[00:07:58] I think even before you know being a founder even before

[00:08:02] Moving to Colorado as I went back it's really the mentors who've helped me kind of the

[00:08:07] Successful on whether you know that's whether it be professional career or you know for so

[00:08:13] You know personal goals. Yeah, I mean in terms of what I realize that, you know, what I started saw me

[00:08:18] So some again kind of better supply chain consulting practice that

[00:08:23] Again, we were we were I started it under the guise of hey, I've run the business and I'm very proud of what how I should consult with you, right?

[00:08:31] Turned out. I was very good at that. We're gonna work at customers solving problems

[00:08:37] But you know nothing about being a founder and nothing about running a startup

[00:08:42] We're starting a business right, and so I think I think at that point I concept in good friend and adventure of my

[00:08:49] concept 10-muggerage and

[00:08:51] Just started talking about the vision of summit, you know, why I thought summit would win inevitably win and yes

[00:08:58] Just such good advice on how to structure things

[00:09:00] You know start talking about the importance of having a distribution network

[00:09:04] You know recruiting all these things right though

[00:09:07] I had not thought about and really had no idea you know how to execute so and that really important to you just

[00:09:14] We saw I die on how we could you know help kind of balance thanks personally with each other so

[00:09:19] after

[00:09:21] it goes years of trying to convince you to drive me as a partner ate something on 2020 and

[00:09:26] You know we've here from a team, but I put you into a team of about 50 in less than once or two years

[00:09:32] So you know in terms of beginning that mentorship

[00:09:36] Relationship was it something that you know you intentionally went into seeking out, right?

[00:09:44] You know like I'm gonna make this happen or is it something that happened?

[00:09:47] Organically over time and then even if it happened organically did you at any point say hey

[00:09:52] You know actually I am looking for mentors or you know, would you be my mentor or did you formalize it in any way?

[00:09:59] Yeah, so it didn't start an intentional fact I met Ken when he was consultant for me as when I was on the customer side

[00:10:06] So I think we just we learned you know about each other through that journey

[00:10:11] but I think when I

[00:10:14] Get a way we moved Colorado. I started started consulting on my own

[00:10:18] You know like that's what I picked up with the phone call and said hey, you know I consider you mentor

[00:10:23] You know helping with some things and say we didn't actually start off attending the business together

[00:10:28] It was more of that hey, do you have kind of I need how to free people can you get in some advice and I think you can go both ways

[00:10:35] I know there's some really cool mentor

[00:10:37] mentor seeking

[00:10:39] programs out there I think a lot of times you are surrounded by mentors you just you just don't realize later

[00:10:45] and you maybe

[00:10:46] Acting interacting with people as

[00:10:48] mentor mentee we thought formalizing with so it's your point

[00:10:52] Starting with people you know and just

[00:10:54] Really making being more interactive about hey, you know already consider you mentor could you you know

[00:10:59] They help me with that's why we see this is one of the best ways to start did you get any

[00:11:04] Were the right early signals that you got from the first interactions that made it clear to you that oh this is going to be a really good

[00:11:12] Relationship I am going to learn a lot or to take you a while over time to figure out that it was going to be a really beneficial

[00:11:19] Relationship so you know for me with example account. I think meeting in a professional setting and see seeing you

[00:11:26] Operative professional and and being aligned with with how you know the decision. See was making

[00:11:31] And just kind of how you operate and I think that was important, but

[00:11:35] even as the customer I think

[00:11:38] You know it was clear like he cared about me personally that I think that was a big big compelling of it where

[00:11:46] You know mentor said the ability to not just help me make better decisions

[00:11:50] but kind of really know you know it's not your character and

[00:11:53] Also, they're looking out

[00:11:56] like, are you making decisions that are within your character or out of your character and try

[00:12:01] to help you think through those decisions? Yeah, you know, I reflect back on my career and I

[00:12:07] definitely had a handful of, you know, both direct managers and other folks that were really

[00:12:14] influential. And I think I reflect back, I think I knew pretty quickly early on that they were

[00:12:22] interested in helping you as a person and not just, you know, this is the exact business,

[00:12:27] thing you're doing and I'm trying to think back to, you know, if there was any specific things

[00:12:33] that were set and done, but I think the thing I remember most is it never felt like they were

[00:12:39] rushed in the interactions or engagement. It was like they had all the time you needed for

[00:12:45] whatever it was at the moment. And I don't know if you had a similar experience as well,

[00:12:49] that was, that's something just reflecting on that. I didn't, for me, I felt was consistent.

[00:12:54] Yeah, I definitely heard that. And I think that, you know, the mentors tend to let you,

[00:12:59] they might guide you, but they tend to let you make the decision, you know, again, personally. And

[00:13:04] I think that's a big consultant of it. It can't be tougher, right? I think a lot of times,

[00:13:09] you know, you want to make decisions quickly and you want to move quickly. Or maybe you don't

[00:13:15] appreciate the advice. And I'm just found that, you know, whether the can or other was that, you know,

[00:13:21] beyond can I think that really leading animals and how to try to, you know, digest up before making

[00:13:29] decisions is really helpful. So for listeners, any tips for them on how to find their can

[00:13:35] and then once they do how to get the most out of that relationship? Yeah, I think probably the

[00:13:42] most practical advice is, again, you may have kind of a mentor mentor relationship about realizing it,

[00:13:48] you know, you haven't, it's off date, but you pick up the phone and call if it's not, you know,

[00:13:53] your spouse or, you know, immediate family. I think that's, that's something that can be

[00:13:59] a cue. But, and then in terms of, you know, formalizing it, I think, yeah, there's, there's a number of

[00:14:05] ways to do that. I think the best way is just to kind of like, I saw you to write a little

[00:14:10] an ask, right. Hey, I like the advice you give, you know, like, consider you a mentor,

[00:14:15] okay, just being that that plant was correct. Just saying very quick, you know, connect all

[00:14:20] you when things come up whether you need to be professional or personal questions, right?

[00:14:24] And, and I think the other part is, it's not just, I think there's a best number of about age and maybe

[00:14:32] that first having any older than you. Even if you don't have personal hobbies or curious,

[00:14:36] learning something new, I think you can, you can seek out, you know, people's just

[00:14:40] just for a lot of some of those things. And you'll be, you'll be shocked and then you can

[00:14:44] shock the truth, actually, would be going to talk with you and federal mentoring you.

[00:14:48] Um, you know, there's a great, I think 10 fairs set of great book on trauma ventures, and,

[00:14:54] whatever he seeks to learn something new, he reaches out to the best,

[00:14:58] almost the best in the world and what they've been in a lot of times they're,

[00:15:01] they're willing to talk. So yeah, I think, I think your, your point is don't be afraid to

[00:15:06] ask right and make the internet building a relationship. Right. That's right. With it.

[00:15:12] Yeah. Don't be afraid to ask. And I think, like I said, that thing, people are,

[00:15:16] are more than willing to share, you know, what they're acquiring, tell us very, very, very personal

[00:15:20] awareness. Yeah. Yeah. And I think too, I think, at least in my experience or the ones I also

[00:15:26] respond the best to is, um, if people have a very specific ask that I feel like I can actually be

[00:15:34] helpful with or if it's at, you know, sort of an inflection point. Right. And I think, you know,

[00:15:39] a few of those are one, you know, anyone who's a student, whether a grad or, or undergrad, right,

[00:15:45] I think students don't realize the amount of people that were, were funded them in looking to help

[00:15:50] them. I think meaningful points when people are thinking about big career changes as well.

[00:15:55] And I think also, you know, you move to a new place. Right. And, you know, maybe it's my bias having

[00:16:00] recently moved to Denver as well, but, you know, someone's like, Hey, I just showed up here and I'd

[00:16:05] love to meet people, right. And I say yes, at a really high rate, because people did that for me

[00:16:10] when I got here. Right. And I think, I think, think about those specific things or maybe good

[00:16:15] tactics for people to use. Yeah. Yeah. And I think along those lines as you, especially as you

[00:16:22] advance here, professional career, yeah, it tends to be a lot about the business and business results

[00:16:28] and, and, and by having mentors, right, again, care about you personally, you know, kind of balance

[00:16:34] out, you know, your mind, just in terms of how to, how to cope with things. And so I think

[00:16:39] that's, you know, just, again, having, having the balance about people, professional

[00:16:44] looking up for you and personally for your character who they need to be,

[00:16:48] let's just go to court. Yeah, I completely agree. So, Josh, you know, where can our listeners

[00:16:55] follow what you're up to? Yes, so you can reach me, you know, email jobs@eafopes.com. I'm also pretty

[00:17:01] active when LinkedIn. So, trying to be better of all posting regularly, but those are the

[00:17:07] two places that I need to handle. Cool. Well, awesome. Anything else you wanted to leave our listeners

[00:17:13] with in terms of, you know, tips or tactics and how to get the most out of a mentorship relationship.

[00:17:18] No, and like I said, I think just, just kind of reflect on who your mentors might be already

[00:17:24] and trying to formalize it and thank that and just keep it knowing. Well, awesome. Well, Josh,

[00:17:28] we're really lucky to have you in the Colorado ecosystem here. And thank you very much for joining us

[00:17:33] today on the podcast.

[00:17:49] [Music]